Standoff for mounting panel and method for mounting panels

Abstract

A standoff for mounting panels such as glass panels in architectural applications include a plurality of parts that are first mounted to the panel and are then used to identify the locations for the anchor fasteners in the support structure or to locate the anchor fasteners as they are driven into the support structure. One configuration includes a bushing that defines a through opening. The bushing is placed through an opening the panel to be mounted. A barrel defining its own opening is then placed on the portion of the bushing that extends from the panel. The through hole of the bushing is aligned with the opening of the bushing such that an anchor fastener can pass through the bushing and the barrel into a support structure to which the panel is to be mounted.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A standoff for mounting a panel to a support structure; the panel defining a mounting opening and first and second exterior surfaces; the standoff comprising:
 a bushing having a shank and a head; the bushing defining an opening that extends entirely through the shank and head; 
 the shank adapted to pass through the mounting opening of the panel with the head adapted to be disposed outside the first exterior surface of the panel; 
 a barrel defining an opening that extends entirely through the barrel; the barrel adapted to be disposed outside the second exterior surface of the panel such that portions of the first and second exterior surfaces of the panel are directly between the head and the barrel; 
 a portion of the shank of the bushing being disposed in the opening of the barrel; the opening of the bushing being aligned with the opening of the barrel such that an anchor fastener can pass through the bushing and the barrel into a support structure to which the panel is to be mounted; and 
 an end cap carried on the head of the bushing; the end cap defining a recess that receives at least a portion of an anchor head of the anchor fastener. 
 
     
     
       2. The standoff of  claim 1 , further comprising an interior washer disposed around a portion of the shank of the bushing; the interior washer adapted to be disposed in the mounting opening of the panel. 
     
     
       3. The standoff of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second exterior washers disposed around portions of the shank of the bushing; the first exterior washer adapted to be disposed between the panel and the barrel; and the second exterior washer adapted to be disposed between the panel and the head of the bushing. 
     
     
       4. The standoff of  claim 3 , wherein:
 each of the exterior washers has a maximum width dimension; 
 the barrel having first and second ends; the first end adapted to face the panel; the first end having a maximum width dimension; 
 the maximum width dimension of the first exterior washer being no larger than the maximum width dimension of the first end of the barrel; 
 the head of the bushing having first and second ends; the first end adapted to face the panel; the first end having a maximum width dimension; and 
 the maximum width dimension of the second exterior washer being larger than the maximum width dimension of the first end of the head of the bushing. 
 
     
     
       5. A standoff for mounting a panel to a support structure; the panel defining a mounting opening; the standoff comprising:
 a bushing having a shank and a head; the bushing defining an opening that extends entirely through the shank and head; 
 the shank adapted to pass through the mounting opening of the panel; 
 a barrel defining an opening that extends entirely through the barrel; 
 a portion of the shank of the bushing being disposed in the opening of the barrel; the opening of the bushing being aligned with the opening of the barrel such that an anchor fastener can pass through the bushing and the barrel into a support structure to which the panel is to be mounted; 
 first and second exterior washers disposed around portions of the shank of the bushing; the first exterior washer adapted to be disposed between the panel and the barrel; and the second exterior washer adapted to be disposed between the panel and the head of the bushing; 
 each of the exterior washers having a maximum width dimension; 
 the barrel having first and second ends; the first end adapted to face the panel; the first end having a maximum width dimension; 
 the maximum width dimension of the first exterior washer being no larger than the maximum width dimension of the first end of the barrel; 
 the head of the bushing having first and second ends; the first end adapted to face the panel; the first end having a maximum width dimension; 
 the maximum width dimension of the second exterior washer being larger than the maximum width dimension of the first end of the head of the bushing; and 
 further comprising an end cap removably carried on the head of the bushing; the end cap having a maximum width dimension; and the maximum width dimension of the second exterior washer being no larger than the maximum width dimension of the end cap. 
 
     
     
       6. The standoff of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior of the shank is threaded; the opening of the barrel is threaded; and the shank threadedly engaging the barrel. 
     
     
       7. The standoff of  claim 1 , wherein the shank slidably engages the barrel. 
     
     
       8. A standoff for mounting a panel to a support structure; the panel defining a mounting opening; the standoff comprising:
 a bushing having a shank and a head; the bushing defining an opening that extends entirely through the shank and head; 
 the shank adapted to pass through the mounting opening of the panel; 
 a barrel defining an opening that extends entirely through the barrel; 
 a portion of the shank of the bushing being disposed in the opening of the barrel; the opening of the bushing being aligned with the opening of the barrel such that an anchor fastener can pass through the bushing and the barrel into a support structure to which the panel is to be mounted; 
 an end cap carried on the head of the bushing; the end cap adapted to cover an anchor head of the anchor fastener; and 
 wherein the end cap has a maximum width dimension; the barrel having a maximum width dimension; the maximum width dimension of the end cap being the same as the maximum width dimension of the barrel. 
 
     
     
       9. An assembly comprising:
 a panel defining a mounting opening and first and second exterior surfaces; 
 a standoff adapted to mount the panel to a support structure; 
 the standoff including a bushing having a shank and a head; the bushing defining an opening that extends entirely through the shank and head; 
 the standoff also including a barrel defining an opening that extends entirely through the barrel; the barrel having an exterior shape and size; 
 a portion of the shank of the bushing disposed in the barrel; the through hole of the bushing being aligned with the opening of the barrel; 
 an anchor fastener extending out of the opening of the bushing into the support structure; 
 a portion of the shank of the bushing being disposed in the mounting opening; 
 portions of the first and second exterior surfaces of the panel disposed between the head of the bushing and the barrel; and 
 an end cap carried by the head of the bushing to cover an anchor head of the anchor fastener; the end cap having an exterior shape and size that matches the exterior shape and size of the barrel. 
 
     
     
       10. The assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising an interior washer disposed around a portion of the shank of the bushing; the interior washer disposed in the mounting opening of the panel. 
     
     
       11. The assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising first and second exterior washers disposed around portions of the shank of the bushing; the first exterior washer disposed between the panel and the barrel; and the second exterior washer disposed between the panel and the head of the bushing. 
     
     
       12. The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the shank is threaded; the barrel is threaded; the shank threadedly engaging the barrel. 
     
     
       13. The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the shank slidably engages the barrel. 
     
     
       14. A method of mounting a panel to a support structure with a standoff; the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a panel with a mounting opening; 
 inserting a shank of a bushing through the mounting opening of the panel; the bushing having a head connected to the shank; the bushing defining an opening that extends entirely though the bushing; 
 connecting a barrel to the shank of the bushing to place a portion of the panel directly between the barrel and the head of the bushing; the barrel defining an opening that extends entirely through the barrel; the opening of the bushing being aligned with the opening of the barrel when the barrel is connected to the shank of the bushing; 
 inserting an anchor fastener through the bushing and through the barrel; 
 connecting the anchor fastener into the support structure; and 
 further comprising the step of drilling a pilot hole in the support structure by drilling through the openings of the bushing and barrel while they are attached to the panel; the pilot hole being drilled before the step of inserting an anchor fastener through the bushing and through the barrel. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of threadedly connecting the shank of the bushing to the barrel. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of connecting an end cap to the head of the bushing and covering a fastener head of the anchor fastener. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:
 positioning an inner gasket in the opening of the panel around the shank of the bushing; and 
 positioning first and second exterior washers around portions of the shank of the bushing; the first exterior washer disposed between the panel and the barrel; and the second exterior washer disposed between the panel and the head of the bushing. 
 
     
     
       18. The standoff of  claim 8 , wherein the exterior of the shank is threaded; the opening of the barrel is threaded; and the shank threadedly engaging the barrel. 
     
     
       19. The standoff of  claim 8 , wherein the shank slidably engages the barrel. 
     
     
       20. The standoff of  claim 8 , further comprising an interior washer disposed around a portion of the shank of the bushing; the interior washer adapted to be disposed in the mounting opening of the panel. 
     
     
       21. The standoff of  claim 8 , further comprising first and second exterior washers disposed around portions of the shank of the bushing; the first exterior washer adapted to be disposed between the panel and the barrel; and the second exterior washer adapted to be disposed between the panel and the head of the bushing.